The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said Tuesday that it has inked an agreement with Stratech Systems to deploy a technology that will detect, indentify, track and display foreign objects in real-time to ensure aviation security standards.
The deal, which is valued at SGD 12 million, will see Stratech extend its iFerret technology along Runways 1 and 2 at Singapore’s Changi Airport.
An all-weather automated system, iFerret is based on “intelligent-vision”, a form of artificial intelligence that enables machines to “see” Foreign Object Damage (FOD), providing the means for critical decision support.
FOD not only possess a perennial hazard to aircraft operations and passenger safety but costs the global aerospace industry an estimated USD 4 billion annually, due to aircraft repairs, flight delays and airport maintenance.
“Runway maintenance is a critical component of airport operations and indeed crucial to passenger safety... It is clear that there can be no compromise where runway maintenance is concerned,” said Dr. David K.M. Chew, Executive Chairman, Stratech Systems Limited at the official media briefing which was conducted parallel to the Singapore Airshow 2008.
Currently, Changi Airport does inspection of foreign objects by physically visiting the runway. However, such inspections disrupt airport operations.
According to Stratech, iFerret alerts air traffic and ground operations control staff automatically should foreign objects be detected. The identified object’s image will then be presented on a display screen, for example at the control tower, without personnel having to making a physical visit. Immediate action can then be taken to clear the runway and ensure the safety of aircraft and with minimal disruption to airport operations.
“ The prevention of FOD incidents has always been a priority at Changi Airport...iFerrt will enable us to automate these inspections and set even higher standards in operational efficiency and passenger safety,” said Mr. Lim Kim Choon, Director-General and Cheif Executive Officer, CAAS in a prepared statement.
This is Stratech’s first iFerret contract and it was awarded following a 15-month pilot trial conducted by Changi Airport. As part of the agreement, Stratech said that it will customise the system to Changi Airport’s requirements, which includes system maintenance and upgrades.
iFerret can be scaled for airport runways and taxiways of any length and can also be deployed on airport aprons, airport hangars and aircraft carriers.
A Singapore based organisation, Stratech was founded in 1981 and in 2006, clinched the Research and Development prize for its intelligent Airfield/Runway Surveillance and Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Detection System at the Asia Pacific ICT Awards. |
